Welcome to the archive images of Tamaki Makaurau
 
 
Week 4
4 February 2007
 
 
 
Whitford Bird Garden
 
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city lies the tiny village of Whitford.  It is here
where world renowned wildlife artist Blake Twigden, magically transformed bare paddocks
into a sub-tropical paradise for pheasants, finches, ducks, turtles and fish.  This delightful artist's love for birds is evident and his excitement contagious as he personally shows you
around through a free flight aviary.
 
 
Quote for the week
 
All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget.  In this - as in
other ways - they are the opposite of paintings.  Paintings record what
the painter remembers.  Because each one of us forgets different things,
a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is
looking at it.  ~ John Berger
 
 
 
Eastern water dragon - a semi aquatic lizard that uses their
laterally compressed tails to propel them when swimming.  It
can remain submerged for up to 30 minutes
 
 
 
 
A boardwalk leads you through this paradise
 
 
 
 
The fern view of the pond
 
 
 
 
The pond
 
 
 
 
A koru hiding in the fern branches
 
 
 
 
A Lady Amherst Pheasant - a secretive pheasant which rather runs
than fly.  Little is known of their behaviour in the wild as these
birds, inspite of their appearance, are very difficult to see in
their natural habitat ...... and difficult to photograph when it
won't stand still!!
 
 
 
 
Monty, the Himalayan Monal Pheasant is looking a bit worse for wear
as he is moulting
 
 
 
 
A Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata)
 
 
 
 
A Namaqua Dove, serenading me with a soft, low 'coooo-hoooo'
 
 
 
 
A 15 year old Golden Pheasant, also moulting
 
 
 
 
The Kotuku or white heron is a rare bird in New Zealand and this one has been
sculpted by Blake from fibre glass and acts as a deterrent to other heron
wanting wanting to catch the fish in the pond.  The Moari proberb
'He Kotuku rerenga tahi' refers to the white heron as a bird of
single flight - meaning it's a sight seen only once in a lifetime
 
 
 
 
The fish which are guarded by the fibre glass heron
 
 
 
 
Passionate Blake grew this Bonsai from a branch off the famous 125 year old pine tree
on top of One Tree Hill just after it was chopped down.  Note One Tree Hill's 
pinnacle and the pine tree on the side of the pot
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You are welcome to copy any of these pictures
but please credit the photographer
Suzette Bothma
or add a link to this page
 
Please do not link this site to any other
that contains any material that is in any way offensive
Thank you
 
 
 
Text and images © 2005-2006 Koru Creations. All rights reserved.
Do not reproduce without permission.